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Semelhante a VerticalGallery
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- 2. 2 Project Project Name: Baruch College Vertical Art Gallery Objective: Upgrade the Baruch College Vertical Campus staircases by transforming them into a "Vertical Art Gallery" Prepared by: Christopher Lekocevic Baruch MBA 2016 Executive Summary "You can burn twice as many calories using stairs as strolling down the hall." In July 2016, the New York Times mentioned that urban landscape conveniences like elevators, are a contributing factor to the 50% “overweight or obese” NYC adult population. (Senthilingam) To solve the problem, New York planners “have now begun employing a method known as ‘active design.” (Senthilingam) We propose a Vertical Art Gallery to be a part of the Vertical Campus. This art project will transform the Vertical Campus staircases into the renowned, "Vertical Gallery." This Vertical Art Gallery will: • Prevent time-consuming, carbon producing congestion by reducing elevator usage • Promote health and well-being through movement in staircases by giving a lower- income student population access to an enlivened staircase atmosphere • Provide beneficial, stimulating art to students and faculty The time is right for action: • Baruch will be innovative leaders in ongoing local, regional, national and international carbon reduction initiatives • Stairs are a widely accepted, healthy alternative to elevators • Art is a beneficial supplement to human development while art institutions continue to grow in New York City This is a great way to promote Baruch College as an innovative, value added leader in providing services to students and the larger community. Baruch will shine as an example of social responsibility and an excellent education value across the country and the globe.
- 4. 4 Why Create Art in the Staircases? Cost and Carbon Footprint Reductions Taking the stairs can decrease Baruch College's electricity usage by reducing the frequency of elevator trips and their associated electricity costs. Variables like building height, number of riders, and elevator capacity make quantifying a solid figure on the Vertical Campus elevators’ annual energy costs and the respective carbon production, a challenging task. Yet, in spite of these limitations, we can produce a few figures to argue soundly for the Vertical Gallery’s first of many benefits: environmental. Elevators “can account for 2-10% of a building’s total energy” (KONE, 2016). In an environmental section of the magazine Slate, a 10-story building is estimated to use about 20,900 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in a year (Rastogi, 2009). Utilizing an “Energy Calculator” provided by international elevator manufacturer and servicer, ThyssenKrupp, produces a another estimate which will be used to explore the environmental impact of the Vertical Campus elevators’ estimated current costs and carbon output (ThyssenKrupp, 2016). As of November 2015, the average New York electricity rate was $0.18 per kWh. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015) The other parameters of the calculator were populated arbitrarily to allow for this initial estimate. The result is: 39,810 kWh of energy is consumed by the Vertical Campus elevators, at an annual cost of $7,165. Costs Using a +/- 20% margin of the energy calculator’s resultant annual costs of $7,165 and estimating that these elevator costs can be 2 – 10% of a building’s annual expenses Baruch can be spending between $5,732 and $8,598 on the Vertical Campus Elevators. -20% Annual Cost Estimate 20% $5,732.0 $7,165 $8,598.0 A carbon calculator from the EPA website, converts the ThyssenKrupp Energy Calculator’s resultant 7,128 kWh into its corresponding carbon production, which ultimately yields: • 30.8 tons of carbon produced by the vertical campus elevators Using an elevator to travel one floor requires 350 watt-hours of energy. If a Baruch student rides an elevator 4 times a day, 4 flights a day, this would amount to 5.6 kWh/day. Over one year, this would amount to 1.5 MWh (1,500 kWh). (Robey)
- 5. 5 And as of 2014, Baruch's total student enrollment is 18,090. (Baruch College, 2015) On a per-student carbon production basis: 30.8 tons/18,090 students = 0.001 tons or 3.4 pounds carbon is produced per student per year. Using a figure of 20%--the increase in stair usage when prompts are used to spur elevator usage (Cohen, 2013)—and its corresponding (assumed) 20% reduction in elevator usage, the Vertical Gallery can reduce total carbon tonnage by 6.16 tons to 24.64 annual tons, or, 2.7 tons per student. This staircase proposal can significantly reduce Baruch's energy costs and carbon footprint through an effective staircase alternative. The vertical gallery will begin to nudge students away from this costly elevator usage and into a more cost-effective (and healthier) staircase routine. In the context of what this elevator usage, and its respective electricity use, produces in carbon, we will use a standard conversion factor of 0.43 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kWh. A single student's annual elevator electricity usage of 1,500 kWh would equal 0.71 tons of carbon. (Robey) Provide Lower-Income Students No Cost, Health Benefits Baruch is a school populated by lower income students. It is recognized as an institution that offers these students a chance— an opportunity to improve social mobility at an unmatched value. In addition to the environmental benefits, we can do even more for these demographics with the Vertical Gallery. Studies suggest that pedestrians in lower socioeconomic areas appear less likely to climb stairs than pedestrians in higher economic areas. (Ryan, 2011) Lower income groups tend to avoid stair use, in general. As a result, they miss out on the subsequent health benefits that are real, cumulative and no cost—Baruch can fix this. CollegeNET ranked Baruch #1 out of 900 colleges nationally for providing social mobility for students. (CollegeNET, 2015) We have the opportunity to add further value with the Vertical Gallery—we can provide the medium for promotion of physical well- being and an exposure to arts at no additional cost or effort. These health benefits will become an everyday part of life at Baruch. Let's give lower income students the chance to change the habit of avoiding the stairs. Stair climbing interventions have been effective in initially influencing positive stair usage and ultimately, sustaining this behavior.
- 6. 6 By transforming the Vertical Campus staircases into Vertical Art Galleries, we will create an environment that will: 1. Effectively prompt and nudge students to take the stairs 2. Sustain this healthy, artistic stair usage practice More on the Health Benefits of Taking the Stairs Which is healthier: a long walk or a climbing stairs? "You can burn nearly twice as many calories per minute climbing the stairs as strolling down the hall." (Reynolds, 2015) "Go for the stairs, says Martin Gibala, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario." It takes more effort to travel the stairs than walking on a flat surface. (Reynolds) According to recent studies, climbing stairs at a slow, unhurried pace requires nearly double the energy per minute as it would along a flat surface at the same speed. The added intensity of stair climbing also increases cardiovascular fitness more effectively than the same amount of time spent walking." (Reynolds, 2015) In fact, even "descending" the stairs requires more calories, per minute, than walking on flat surfaces; using the stairs activates and strengthens more muscles in the legs and back and may even improve balance than just merely walking. (Reynolds, 2015) Stair climbing initiatives create inexpensive, accessible, and effective health benefits. The “benefits associated with climbing stairs include improved cardio respiratory fitness and cholesterol profile with a resultant decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke." (Olander, 2011) "Hence, it is no surprise that the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association has specifically recommended stair climbing as a means to improving and maintaining health." (Olander and Eves) The American Heart Association includes stair climbing in their list of beneficial physical activities. (American Heart Association, 2015) Stair climbing and its resultant incremental health improvements can be offered plentifully in the Vertical Campus. Research has revealed that there are important health benefits associated with taking the stairs on a daily basis even when no other lifestyle changes are made (Boreham, Wallace, & Nevill, 2000). What this means to the busy college student and eventful faculty, is that if no other changes were made to a stair user's lifestyle, providing them the initial push and the sustained motivation to add a daily walk through the stairs would improve their health. (Suri, 2014)
- 7. 7 Meyer et al. (2010) performed a 12-week promotional campaign for stair use at the University Hospital of Geneva. The results "showed a significant increase in both participant activity level and declines in weight” and improvements were sustained six months later in a follow-up evaluation. (Meyer, 2010) The Baruch Vertical Gallery will include these sustaining, positive reinforcement messages, which will be incorporated into the murals. These art projects will drive increased stair usage by re-iterating the health benefits of taking the stairs. Researchers at Harvard concur and "found that individuals who climbed stairs daily at work had a 25% decreased risk of mortality compared to those who were less active, climbing stairs burns more calories than jogging, and people who are overweight or less fit consider it an acceptable form of exercise." (Cohen, 2013) Climbing stairs is also a benefit to those who may be reluctant to exercise when “appearance and ability” are less of a concern. (Cohen, 2013) Finding time between work, school, internships and social life is difficult for many Baruch Bearcats. It is inconvenient to dedicate time to exercise. The Vertical Gallery can create the ideal support environment in a low cost, convenient way. It is a clear, low cost addition to health and well-being movements. In fact, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, billionaire arts philanthropist, and global voice for public health initiatives, advocates stair use as an easy, convenient way to promote health and exercise. (El-Naggar, 2013) We can be leaders in this movement. Baruch has the space available to begin promoting healthy, stair usage immediately. Lack of Ready, Available Everyday Art Stretching 14 stories high, nearly 19,000 students and faculty navigate their way up and down the campus with two elevator banks, staircases, and escalators. Baruch College is in a unique position and can exploit the great opportunity to do what others can't—create an ever-changing, everyday art gallery that is incorporated into student life on a daily basis. This means: no additional memberships to galleries; no extracurricular efforts; no costs to visiting art institutions—art comes to the Baruch community! Baruch is the art—it will be a major element of the everyday, Baruch campus life. Recent studies suggest that art appreciation is a natural biological process that positively activates areas of the brain and is a natural enhancer to the human mind. (Lukits, 2014) A meta-analysis of over 100 studies, The Connection between Art, Healing, and Public Health, published in the American Journal of Public Health, revealed wide-ranging benefits of art. One example is the use of control and experimental groups of visual art interventions in different hospital units. (Stuckey, 2010) “The groups that received the intervention were significantly more likely than were those that did not, to have improved clinical outcomes, including better
- 8. 8 vital signs, diminished cortisol related to stress, and less medication needed to induce sleep.” (Stuckey, 2010) The art is an important part of promoting well-being in the Vertical Gallery. This can stimulate and inspire students as they travel in the staircases between classes. CUNY student artists' imaginations and their displays of colors, space, and shape, on the staircase walls will encourage student use of stairs. In addition to the genuine benefits that the wall art will provide to students, murals will incorporate the necessary theme of positive reinforcement messages that will maximize this proposal's effectiveness (discussed in detail in section: Structuring the Project for Maximum Effectiveness). The Baruch Vertical Gallery can provide sustaining art space in an environmentally friendly, low-cost, healthy way. Baruch lacks this beneficial art space. Let's create a rich cultural and all but natural, environment with the Vertical Art Gallery. The vertical campus presents an opportunity to incorporate beneficial, natural arts experiences to every member of the Baruch community’s school day. Arts continue to gain popularity as the Metropolitan Museum's record attendance numbers attest. Multimillion dollar expansions of both the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Frick Collection, as well as the Whitney Museum's new west side location, are further evidence of continued arts growth in NYC. The Baruch Vertical Art Gallery will create environmentally friendly art space in the most convenient way and in a nearly no-cost version of the aforementioned institutions. Baruch is in a unique position to re-imagine the use of stairs to create an incentivizing, rewarding, and useful Vertical Art gallery in the staircases. Baruch College can join these art leaders in New York City and around the world.
- 9. 9 Structuring the Project for Maximum Effectiveness People and Stairs Relationship "You can burn twice as many calories using stairs as strolling down the hall." (Reynolds, 2015) Figure 1: An example of signage at first contact. These signs will be strategically placed at point of decision locations with imperative statements to take the stairs. While on the stairs, the positive sustaining messages will carry students to the peaks of health and academic achievement. The First Step "Take the Stairs" The problem of using stairs is a citywide, even a nationwide issue. Baruch College is no different. It seems past attempts have been made to use stairs but have not been sustainable. If there isn't a positive reason to incentivize stair usage, students, administrators and guests will, more probable than not, wait for elevators. Unless circumstances positively force people to take the stairs, the vast majority of us will wait in lines for elevators or escalators—even if they will be late.
- 10. 10 In order to create the Vertical Art Gallery in the most effective way, the structure must be created in a two-step method: 1. First, signs will prompt and direct students to take the more environmentally friendly, health-promoting stairs: the Imperative Signs in the Near Condition (discussed below). 2. The non-intrusive, self-reflective murals will sustain staircase activity by reiterating the health and environmental benefits of stair case usage while offering low-income students exposure to everyday, mind pleasing art: Interrogative Sign in the Far Condition (discussed below) Multiple studies concluded that using signage to promote stair use has been effective. (Cohen, 2013) In 2014, research was conducted to determine whether signs influenced people in taking the stairs. (Aksay, 2014) There was a strong relationship between “positive-direction posters” and stair use—which is the ultimate goal of this proposed Baruch Vertical Art Gallery project—which ultimately led the researchers to conclude that “the use of stairs decreased when no poster was displayed, while positive posters increased stair use and negative posters decreased this behavior.” (Aksay, 2014) Collectively, studies confirm that the ideal content of health related communications may vary with the context of the public health campaign. (Suri, 2014) Our context is: • sustainability and the environment • personal health and well-being Vertical Art Gallery usage will be prompted by signage at points of decision like the Baruch Lobby, escalator and elevator intersections. In addition to physical signs, social media campaigns (mentioned later in section, Marketing) will help. One possible Baruch-wide IT solution: when logging into Baruch Wi-Fi, add a message for the first few months of every new school year to remember to take the Vertical Art Gallery staircases. In 2008 -2009, stair and elevator trips were observed and analyzed at three buildings in New York City— a three-story health clinic an eight-story academic building and a ten- story affordable housing site—before and after the posting of a prompt stating "Burn Calories, Not Electricity". (Lee) Statistically significant results were seen at all sites immediately after posting of the prompt suggesting that the prompt was effective in increasing (and maintaining after 9 months) physical activity in diverse settings. The Vertical Art Gallery will give an opportunity to those willing to add healthy changes to their everyday lives.
- 11. 11 While on the Stairs "You Are Healthier When Taking the Stairs—You Can Do It!" The full public health benefits of increasing physical activity levels can only be realized if the activity is sustained. Figure 2: Percentage of pedestrians taking the stairs for the Imperative and Interrogative sign type by distance condition. There is a crossover interaction, with the Imperative Sign being most effective in the Near Condition and the Interrogative Sign most effective in the Far Condition. (Suri, 2014) Figure 2, shows a crossover interaction with the arrangement of signage: the Imperative Signs are most effective in the Near Condition and the Interrogative Sign being most effective in the Far Condition. Signage closer to the stairs will simply state that students take the stairs—which is the “Imperative.” But while on the stairs, questions will be more interrogative and reflective—these are the “Interrogative.” The Vertical Art Gallery murals will be artistic expressions of these interrogative public health and environmental improvement messages. The Vertical Gallery murals will incorporate healthy lifestyle and environmental messages throughout the themes of the artwork. The murals are amalgamations— final products of individual creativity and group benefits— that incorporate our context: consistent, positive, and sustaining messages on the environmental and health benefits of an active lifestyle.
- 12. 12 Figures 3, 4, and 5 show the suggested physical outline of this proposal— messages take different form before and during stair usage. Figure 3: The initial, imperative signage is strategically placed at intersections to nudge students into taking the stairs. It's an introductory, first contact campaign in the Vertical Gallery ground floor lobby. Example signs (among others): • "Take the Stairs: Burn Calories" • "Take the Stairs: Enjoy the #StaircaseArt" • "Burn Calories, Not Electricity" • "Stairs are Better for the Environment"
- 13. 13 Figure 4: The initial, Imperative Vertical Gallery Lobby strategy from Figure 3 is employed on floors 2-12 as well. Figure 5: Then, in order to sustain this behavior and instill the health, environmental and mindfulness benefits, Interrogative signs and messages are incorporated into the landing floor murals: these works of art are more reflective and more informative. Interrogative signs are most effective in this arrangement. These murals ultimately instill both the short and long term local, regional and global benefits of taking the stairs. This sign structure is most successful when arranged together.
- 14. 14 Having seen an increase of 20% in employee stair usage after implementing additions like signage at the Dayton Ohio VAMC, researchers now recommend these incentivizing additions in stairwells. (Cohen, 2013) Stairwell murals will transform the Vertical Campus into a Vertical Gallery. In order to create this Vertical Gallery, we need to structure it for maximum effectiveness regarding both the first impetus on to the stairs, and the sustaining message. Our plan accomplishes this objective. A paper published by Graham (2013) contained information on measured stair use before environmental modifications—such as signs—and at the end of the 2-year intervention. (Graham, 2013) “The intervention had a significant positive effect on stair use measured both objectively and via self-report, with greatest increases reported among those participants who used the stairs least at baseline.” (Graham, 2013) 2 years on, these stairwell modifications were maintained, and “increases in both objectively measured and self-reported stair use were significantly larger at intervention than control worksites.” (Graham, 2013) A major conclusion on stair case research from Lewis and Eves (2012), found that point-of- choice prompts near the stairs, in addition to signs at the top of the climb, were more effective together than separate. (Cohen, 2013) These signage prompts will be coordinated with the Vertical Gallery murals for maximum sustained, effectiveness. These studies strongly suggest that the positive impact of environmental modifications on stair use persists. The Vertical Gallery will create the ideal atmosphere for healthy, environmentally friendly, art exposure. The most effective layout places the initial prompt—point of decision—in proximity to the stairs. This behavior is then sustained by the murals that are the message vehicle for the context of the artwork which are: • Health benefits/Burning calories • Carbon footprint reduction/Environmental issues • Exposure to everyday, mind stimulating art This project is established to be a comprehensive, holistic art development. Many different parties will be involved and we will all contribute our skills and effort. There will be no- to low costs that are greatly outweighed by the benefits of: • Health and well-being initiatives • Environmental sustainability • Art exposure • Student/staff/community collaboration In July 2016, the New York Times mentioned that urban landscape conveniences like elevators, are a contributing factor to the 50% “overweight or obese” NYC adult population. (Senthilingam) To solve the problem, New York planners “have now begun employing a method known as ‘active design.” (Senthilingam) Our project is that active design in action! We are already steps ahead. We can be leaders and innovators in this movement. These planners can look to the Baruch College Vertical Gallery as an example.
- 15. 15 However, as with any other project, there are hindrances. Yet, we believe they can easily be overcome. This project is for the greater good of the student, school, and community. A few of these minor issues may arise and they are listed in the next section. What Can Prevent This Project from Happening and How We Can Prepare Building Structure/Fire Safety Some egress stairs are restricted to being used only during times of emergency. Some egress stairs can be used also like convenience stairs. In the case of the Vertical Campus, the egress stairs can be used during times of non- emergencies. Any necessary directions signs or symbols will be incorporated into the project and they take precedence. Of course, safety is first. There are safety issues that would need to be addressed. Anything on the walls would need to pass building code, be flame resistant, and cannot prevent maintenance. Not a single work of art will extend beyond the wall and other building notifications will never be obstructed. The art will be created with safe, non-toxic water-based, latex paint— the same paint used to paint the current walls—and can only be displayed on staircase landing walls. Labor Model Baruch College is proud of their union labor relationship. These collective bargaining groups are an integral part of our campus system. This may lead to concerns with non- union painters working on campus. Painters that would otherwise be compensated, within contract requirements, will not be disturbed. This is not a re-painting project. However, we hope that union administrators can work together with students of the college and the larger community to use this as an act of social responsibility. The Vertical Gallery is an arts project and not a re-painting job; these artists and students are not performing the responsibilities of contracted workers—they will be working and flourishing together. In addition, there is no additional maintenance outside of the responsibilities of current maintenance staff. This art is part of the everyday, school life. This is not a preservation project. The art is installed, produced, and it is maintained as if it were any other wall. (A potential positive externality of this project: the current state of bare wall staircases attracts litter and periodic defacement. The increased foot traffic may even reduce sporadic litter and graffiti.) These students are creating scenes of artistic expression and not performing the roles of union members.
- 16. 16 Costs The costs, as of this writing, are minimal: the latex paint, brushes, drop cloths and other basic tools. However, pending further review, there are other potential costs: building staff may need to periodically supervise work being done over the weekends of creation. Marketing Baruch Student Interns Own the Marketing This project is, ideally, a student administered project from conception to marketing. This will give Baruch students real exposure to work on marketing projects. The group that will take over the Vertical Gallery will assess this into the future. Stair Usage Messages A social media campaign of calls to action to benefit from the Vertical Art Gallery staircases will be executed. Students can name the different murals and create hashtags that will continue to attract global attention. Our Next Steps Scope of Work A meeting with all recommended parties to discuss fit and feasibility is our next step. The ideal results of these meetings will produce a three-phase project plan. Three Phases The three phases are: 1) build awareness for the project 2) evaluate artwork submissions 3) create the artwork and commission the final acceptance Each landing cannot take longer than one weekend to complete. Artist must be ready with draft or stencil for the weekends leading up to the installation. The production goal is for this Vertical Gallery to continually evolve and allow new art creations annually. With this rotating artwork in the stairwells, students will be given the opportunity to use the space as a canvas for particular clubs' message or organizations’ mission in the artwork. Art competitions and fundraisers will be held periodically offering all Baruch and CUNY students the opportunity to display their artwork in the stairwells. Students and alumni can submit new art every year to reflect an ever changing diverse, CUNY population.
- 17. 17 1. Phase I Drafts from artists will be submitted and reviewed in this phase. 2. Phase II Two months to seek sponsorships. Finalize selected artwork. 3. Phase III Art begins. Weekend work. Each artist must be prepared with stencils, drop cloth, brushes, paint to complete work in a full weekend; no exceptions. Final acceptance of work. Opening ceremony. The vertical gallery will kick off with a back to school "Vertical Art Gallery" day in the 25th Street Plaza.
- 18. 18 Take the stairs… …Walk for your health and the earth! Take the Stairs!